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Great Britain lose Davis Cup tie to Ukraine

IGNOMINY is not exactly a new emotion to the British Davis Cup team. Embarrassments have been too frequent in recent years for the team supposedly buoyed by the economic profits from Wimbledon.

But John Lloyd now admits the factor that will determine whether his lineup slips to its lowest level in nearly 15 years is the involvement of Andy Murray.

With the world No 4, Lloyd insists Britain has a chance of avoiding the drop to the third tier of Euro/Africa Zone Group Two and potential encounters with Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro and Ireland.

Without the younger of the two Murray brothers, Lloyd can promise nothing and the paucity of other talent at his disposal was again brought starkly into focus as Britain suffered defeat within two days against Ukraine.

Glasgow's Braehead Arena was meant to showcase Murray's talent. As he finally returned tentatively to a practice court 400 miles south